About the Portal

The Africa Portal on Inequalities and Structural Transformation is an online knowledge resource for inequality-related issues. The portal offers open access to a suite of features including an online library collection; a resource for opinion and analysis; an expert’s directory; an international events calendar; all aimed to equip users with research and information on Africa’s current policy issues relating to inequalities. A key feature to the site is the online library collection holding, journals, and digital documents related to African inequalities policy issues. The entire online repository is open access and available for free full-text download. A large portion of the digital documents are linked to their primary online source. The Africa Portal on Inequalities and Structural Transformation aims to improve access and visibility for African research. The initial portal was established in preparation for the Africa-Wide Conference on Tackling Inequalities in the Context of Structural Transformation and was made made possible from the collaborative effort of the organizations listed below . *The post conference version of the portal is now seeking partners to contribute content and maintain the site.

The Government of Ghana represented by the National Development Planning Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration , Ministry of Finance , Ministry of Gender , Children and Social Protection.

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The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) is headquartered in Dakar, Senegal. It was established in 1973 as an independent pan-African research organisation primarily focusing on social sciences research in Africa.

CODESRIA’s mission required the emergence of a pan-African community of researchers, the protection of their intellectual freedom and autonomy in performing their duties and the elimination of barriers regarding language, discipline, region, gender and generation.

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Established in 1962, the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) is based at the Faculty of Social Science of the University of Ghana. ISSER’s mission is to carry out activities that would promote the socio-economic development of Ghana in particular and Africa in general. Specifically, the Institute undertakes research in the social sciences and promotes human resource development through post-graduate training in Development Studies and short courses. ISSER also monitors and evaluates the effects of development policies, projects and programmes both in terms of their objectives and general consequences.

ISSER’s research portfolio covers a wide range of issues, including the design, monitoring and evaluation of development; social dimensions of HIV/AIDS; gender issues; health care financing; behavioural aspects of health care; economic policy options; poverty; information technology; multi-disciplinary and population studies. Since 1992, ISSER has published the State of the Ghanaian Economy Report on an annual basis. The report covers fiscal policies, monetary and financial developments, international trade and payments, performance of the agricultural, industrial and service sectors. Other key publications of the Institute are Technical Reports, Discussion and Seminar Papers, Special Reports and Policy Briefs.

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The Society for International Development (SID) www.sidint.net is an international network of individuals and organizations founded in 1957 in Washington D.C. to promote participative, pluralistic and sustainable development. Through locally-driven programmes and activities, SID strengthens collective empowerment, facilitates dialogue and knowledge-sharing on people-centered development strategies, and promotes policy change towards inclusiveness, equity and sustainability. SID has over 3,000 members, and works with local chapters and partner organizations in more than 50 countries, involving academia, parliamentarians, students, political leaders and development experts, both at local and international level. The day-to-day activities of SID are coordinated by a Secretariat which has three offices in Dar es-Salaam, Nairobi and Rome.

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The UN Millennium Campaign was established by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in 2002 in order to support citizen participation in the achieving the Millennium Development Goals, adopted by 189 world leaders from rich and poor countries, as part of the Millennium Declaration which was signed in 2000. Since 2002 the initiative has worked with UN partners and key global constituencies, such as civil society, parliamentarians, faith groups and youth to inspire people from around the world to take action for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Now the Campaign advocates for increased efforts to effectively promote greater support for the MDGs, as it is more critical than ever that they remain a priority in the political and public agenda. We work underlining their impact and that they continue to be a sound and worthwhile investment for all in the fight against global poverty. Additionally, the UN Millennium Campaign is engaged in the post-2015 process. The UN Millennium Campaign is based in New York, with teams working in Africa, Asia and Europe

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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF is a United Nations Program headquartered in New York City, that provides long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries. It is one of the members of the United Nations Development Group and its Executive Committee. UNICEF was created to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II. Most of UNICEF’s work is in the field, with staff in over 190 countries and territories. More than 200 country offices carry out UNICEF’s mission through a program developed with host governments. Seventeen regional offices provide technical assistance to country offices as needed. UNICEF’s Supply Division is based in Copenhagen and serves as the primary point of distribution for such essential items as vaccines, antiretroviral medicines for children and mothers with HIV, nutritional supplements, emergency shelters, and educational supplies, among others. A 36-member Executive Board establishes policies, approves programs and oversees administrative and financial plans

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Third World Network Africa (TWN-Af) is a pan-African research and advocacy organization based in Accra, Ghana and engaged on issues related to development, the environment and North-South affairs. TWN–Af seeks a greater articulation of the needs and rights of marginalized social groups, a fair distribution of the world’s resources and forms of development which are ecologically sustainable and fulfill human needs. TWN’s flagship publication, African Agenda, seeks to bring to Africa and the world stories and perspectives of Africa’s development which underscore our goals.

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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the United Nations’ global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and its wide range of partners.

UNDP is an executive board within the United Nations General Assembly. The UNDP Administrator is the third highest-ranking official of the United Nations after the United Nations Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General.

Headquartered in New York City, the UNDP is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from member nations. The organization has country offices in 177 countries, where it works with local governments to meet development challenges and develop local capacity. Additionally, the UNDP works internationally to help countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Currently, the UNDP is one of the main UN agencies involved in the development of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

UNDP provides expert advice, training, and grant support to developing countries, with increasing emphasis on assistance to the least developed countries. To accomplish the MDGs and encourage global development, UNDP focuses on poverty reduction, HIV/AIDS, democratic governance, energy and environment, social development, and crisis prevention and recovery. UNDP also encourages the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women in all of its programmes.

Furthermore, the UNDP Human Development Report Office publishes an annual Human Development Report (since 1990) to measure and analyse developmental progress. In addition to a global Report, UNDP publishes regional, national, and local Human Development Reports

ECA The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa was established in 1958 as one of the UN’s five regional commissions. ECA’s mandate is to promote the economic and social development of its member States, foster intra-regional integration, and promote international cooperation for Africa’s development. As the only UN agency mandated to operate at the regional and subregional levels to support Africa’s priorities, ECA plays a dual role as a regional arm of the UN and as a key component of the African institutional landscape. Made up of 54 member States, ECA is therefore well positioned to make unique contributions to address the Continent’s development challenges. Through its publications, such as the Economic Report on Africa, the Commission disseminates best practices of specific aspects of economic management within Africa. ECA consistently advocates for a sound macroeconomic policy framework that is supportive of inclusive growth, private sector development, employment, value addition, economic transformation and sustainable development. In 2012, under the leadership of its new Executive Secretary and Under-Secretary General Dr. Carlos Lopes, ECA undertook a major restructuring process and reoriented its action in order to strengthen its role as a continental think-tank focusing on macroeconomic policy, regional trade and integration, social policy development and statistics. Particular emphasis is being given to collecting up to date and original regional statistics in order to ground policy research and advocacy activities on clear and objective evidence. ECA mandate includes promoting policy consensus; providing meaningful capacity development; and providing advisory services in its key thematic fields. MDP-RPS The Macroeconomic Policy Division (MPD) of ECA focuses on generating innovative and policy-relevant knowledge through applied research that supports Africa’s transformation agenda. Support is provided to member States in formulating and implementing policies aimed at achieving MDGs and promoting the graduation of Africa’s Least Development Countries (LDCs). Through its Renewal of Planning Section, ECA is engaged in strengthening member States capacities to design, implement, monitor and evaluate innovative plans and strategies that can lead to inclusive, sustainable and transformative growth. Planning practices in Africa and elsewhere are periodically reviewed by ECA in order to compiles lessons learned and best practices to be popularized among clients and stakeholders through peer learning exercises, and knowledge sharing mechanisms.